Wagon-axle



(No Model.)

N. L. HOLMES.

WAGON AXLE. No. 307,649.

Patented Nov.` 4, 18814.

N. PETERS. Phmo-Liuwgnpher. wmmgmn. x? cA Unirse @Tatras PaTnnT Ormes.

NATHAN L. HOLMES, OF RACINE, VISOONSIN.

WAGON-AXLE.

I SPECEFICTIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 307,649, dated November 4, 1884.

(No model.)

To all 'zz/71.0112, it 17mg/ concern.-

Beit known that I, NATHAN L. HoLMns, of Racine, in the county of Racine and State otl Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vagon-Axles; and I g do hereby declare that the following is a full,

clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tubular iron wagon-axles, and has for its object to provide a construction whereby the. desired size and strength may be obtained in and adjacent to the arms or spindles of the axle, while employing a tube of only appropriate size to give the desired strength to the intermediate parts of the axle, and whereby, also, the general character and appearance ot' the axle, as a whole, will be improved.

To these and other ends that will further appear the invention consists `in the combination, with a tube extending` from end to end of the axle, ot metal thimbleskeins secured externally to the ends of the tube, and in other matters,substantially as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appendedr claims.

In the use ot' tubular iron axles for wagons it has been observed that the gas-pipe or similar tubing ot' which such axles have been constructed is too soft to afford durable wearing-surfaces for the wheel-boxes, and also that in providing for necessary size of the spindles and needful strength at points near the spindles, where the axle is subjected to greatest strain, an objectionably large tube has been required, which, by extending the entire length ot' the axle, gives superfluous weight and size to the latter at points where the full strength of the metal is not needed. An attempt to obviate this last-mentioned objection has been made, which consisted in upsetting the tube at and in the neighborhood of the inner ends of the spindles, so as to increase its diameter at these points of greatest strain and to provide for the necessary taper ot' the spindles or arms. This construction is attended with the objection that the metal oi' the tube, though enlarged by being upset, is also weakened by Vlongitudinal compression and lateral separation of its fibers in the act of upsetting, so

that the desired strength is not obtained by the enlargement ot' the axle thus produced. In the improved construction herein shown the tube employed for an axle of a heavy wagon is about half an inch less in diameter than that heretofore employed, and, generally, by said improvement the diameter' ot' the axletubes for all sizes of wagons will loe reduced at least twenty percent. rIhe ends ot' the tube are drawn downto give the required taper to the arms, and the necessary size and strength are given to said arms and to the adjacent portions ot' the axle by means of metal (usually steel) thirnble-skeins having inward extensions, which embrace or partially embrace the axle at t-he points of strain near the arms. The addition of the thimble-skeins, when ot' steel or hardened metal, also provides better wearing-surfaces for the wheelboxes, so that the axle is not only lighter in appearance and in fact, andof equal or greater strength at the points of strain than in former constructions, but is tar more durable at the wearingpoints.

Referring to the drawings for a fuller explanation ot' my improvements, Figure l is a side elevation oi' a portion of a wagonaxle, showing my improvement. Fig. 21 is a central vertical section ot' the parts shown in FiO. l. Fig. 3 represents a blan'k, or a plan view of a piece of sheet metal ot' proper form to give the thimble-skein and its extension, shown in Figs. l and 4, when bent to shape, Fig, 4t is a perspective view oit the steel thimble-skein and its extension, together with a collar of peculiar construction applied thereto, the wooden portion ofthe axle and a part of the axle-tube being removed. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of the collar or hurter-band and its adj uncts shown in Fig. 4.

lA is a wrought-iron tube forming the principal metal portion of the axle, and havin its extremities formed to give the desired taper to the arms or spindles.

B is a thimble, usually made of sheet-steel 'shaped upfrom a blank, of which a suitable form is shown in Fig. Said thimble closely embraces the tapered end ot' the tube A, and may wholly or partially embrace the axle for any desired distance beyond the collar or hnrtenband. When formed from a blank, said roo blank should have its edges, as m n, welded together for the entire'length of the arm, and preferably along the top of the arm. as intended in the particular form of blank shown in Fig. 3.

B is an extension of the thimble extending inwardly from the arm along the Linder surface of the axle, and laterally embracing both the tubular and wooden portions of the axle, as indicated in Fig. 1.

C C are collars shrunk or otherwise secured upon' the thimbles B at the inner ends of the armsor spindles to form the necessary shoulders for the wheels. f

D is a wooden portion of the axle, grooved on its under surface to tit the upper surface of thetube. and abutting against the inner verticall surfaces ofthe collars G.

E E are clips which bind the parts together, and; B2 is a` plug welded in the end of the tube A, and threaded to/receive the nut N.

'In constructing the axle shown, the ends of the tube A are heated and drawn or swag-ed by any suitable means from points about ata to the extremities, in order to give the desired taper to the arms.A In the open ends ofthe tubeare welded the plugs B, which project and are threaded in the usual manner to receive the nuts N. In the use of al thimble formed of sheet metal, the part l of the blank B3 iscut of suitable size and shape to admit of .being bent to form a tapering thimble closely fitting the tapered portion or arm of the tube A, and the edges m a of said blank, which meet and are welded together along the top'of the arm, are preferably ot'such length as to reach al little beyond the inner vertical face of the collar C, for a purpose that willvbe explained. The edges a o of the extension 2 of the blank which ineline'toward each other, as shown, are preferably curved inwardly at b2, for a purpose which will also further appear. The part 2 ofthe blank B3 is of such dimensions 'as to admit of being bent to form an extension of the thinible reaching along the under side of 61,) and is secured at its'end by a clip, E. lIhe .blank extension is also preferably of such form andsize as to rise at the sides of the axle far renough to cover` the tube, and to also reach n abovethe adjacent edges of the wood portion vD. After bending up and welding the edges m a ofthe arm or spindle portion 1 ofthe blank B, the extension 2 is, in this case, swaged by a suitable former7 into proper shape to closely fit the under side ofthe tube and the side faces of the wood D, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Said wood portion D being thicker than the diameter of the tube, an offset, b', is preferably 'formed along each side of the extension B', to give room for the edges of the Wood. so that the said extension will closely fit and bear against the entire surface which it covers. The thimble may be secured tothe 'tube-either by welding it at the outer end of .the arm or by shrinking it upon the tube, as

may be thought advisable. Since-it may be ydesirable to some time renew a thimble, the

method of fastening 'it by shrinking it upon the tube will obviously be preferable. After securing the thimble upon the tube the arm should be placed in a suitable swage or former,- by whichl it may be accurately trued and brought to size, and 'by which it may also be compressed firmly upon the tube throughout the length of the arm, in case it is fastened to the tube by Welding at the end, as above described. The collar or hurter-bandCis secured in place preferably and usually by shrinking it on. For the general purposes of my invention said hurter-band may be of any desired form. I have, however, devised a particular construction of saidl band, particularly adapted tolcontine the wood and metal parts ot' the axle, as shown in thedrawings. This band is of malleable iron, and by its use greater strength in the finished axle and greater facility of manufacture of the axle are attained.

Referring to the drawings, G is the harter,-

band referred to, havinga shoulder, c3, against which the wheel-box bears. G is an inwardly `or rearwardly directed iiange or extension IOO braced beneath the clipfE, preferably as high as the points where the upper rounded surface of the wood portion D begins, and above the margins b of the thimble-extension B. At c said tianges C are cast with offsets to admit the corresponding offsets, b', on the skein-extension B', as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. The inner surface of the hnrter-band and its flange C is cylindric or slightly tapered to fit the surface of the thinlble, as indicated in Fig. 2.

When the hurter-band Gis secured inplace upon the thiinble, constructed as shown, the exposed edges of the thiinble are'swaged upward against the inner edge of the narrow IIO part of the flange C', and the adjacent parts of the margins b of the blank are forced outwardly closely against the flanges C3. curved form'given to the blank at b2, Fig. 3, facilitates their beingv nptnrned, as just described, andalso gives to said edges, when so bent, a conformity with the upper curved surface of the iiange C. A smooth effect in the upward swagingl of said edges b2 is further fa.- cilitated by making the edge of the flange C curved, as indicated in Fig. 5.

Y By the feature of the upturned edges b2 of the spindle back of the flange G, as above described, the band G is obviously more perfectly andl permanently held in place against any tendency of the wheel to force upon the axle. y v ,Y

The

The tube, spindle, and hurterband having been joined as set'forth, and as particularly shown in Fig. 4, the wood portion D of the axle is fitted and secured. Such fitting of the 'wood D consists in grooving its under surface to admit one-half the diameter or depth of the tube A, and in cutting away the under surface at the ends of the stick to accommodate the iianges C on the hurter-bands. The ends of the wood portion abut against the shoulders cl of the hurterbands, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus fitted and applied, the wood and metal parts are secured by the clips E E, one of which fastens the inner end of the'thimble-extension B, and the other of which secures the end of the wood. rThe clip-tic E at the inner end of the thimbleeXtensionB/ is of malleable iron, shaped to conform with the curved under surface of the aXl'e. The lateral projections C2 upon'the under portion of the flange C ofthe hurter-band also form a clip-tie of the same piece of metal with the collar C.

In order to insure a close fit of the clips E, said clips are preferably made of wrought or malleable iron, and the flanges GVupon the hurter-band are made thin at their upper edges, so as to yield or bend inwardly slightly under the strain applied to the clip, which closely hugs the outer faces of said flanges. If desired, said fianges C3 may be recessed to admit the wings b ofthe thimblelextension, so as to give a iiush surface therewith against the Wood. A good finish and a close lit of the clips will also be produced if the upper edges, b,ot'the thimble-extension B are thinned down by hammering.

Instead of nrst forming the thimble and its extension B and thereafter securing it to the tube A, the thimble or arm portion B only may be formed up and'then fastened to the tube, after which the extension B may be swaged down to fit the tube by the aid of swages or formers, one of which has the shape of the wood portion D, and another of which bears externally upon the plate-extension and gives it the shape desired. The invention is notrestricted to any particular order of steps to be pursued in making the device, and the met-hods above set forth are given as merely advisory.

An inferior construction within the scope of my invention would be formed by making the flanges C3 on the hurter-band continuous with cach other over the top of the wood portion D, and omitting the clip E at this point, and also omitting the lugs C2, and, if desired, the upper or narrowed portion of the iiange C. lu this case the hurter-bands, or one of them, would be applied to the spindle after the wood part D was placed upon the tube A. It will also be practicable to construct the thimble with awrist-extension extending over and embracing the end of the Wood portion D; but in that case it will preferably be prolonged 0n the under side to receive the inner clip, E.

A hurter-band of the general construction set forth is obviously adapted to be used upon a thimble embracing the arm of an axle made entirely of wood, or not having a metal part lA. Of course the projections C2 on the said hurter-band may be omitted, and a separate piece employed for a clip-tie; but the construction shown is preferable.

The first following claim is intended to cover a tubular axle without the wood adjunct D.

In another application for patent filed by me of even date herewith, a particular construction of the thimble is set forth and claimed, which consists in making the thimble and its extension of tubing of proper size to fit the main or axle tube A.

I claim as my inventionl. rlhe combination, with a tubular wagonaxle having its ends or arms tapered, of sheetmetal thimble-skeins fitted and secured upon the ends or arms of the tube., substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the tube A and Y a wood portion, D, of a thimble skein, B, provided with an inner extension a hurtei -band or collar, and means for confining the skeinextension and the wood and tubular portions ofthe aXle together, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the tube A, thim-- ble B, having an inner extension, B', wood portion D, and hurter-band, of clips E E, applied, respectively, to the end of the wood and the end ofthe thimble-extension, substantially as described.

4. In combination with an axle and a thimble having an extension, B', a hurter-band having a shoulder at c2, and provided with a flange, C', and side flanges at C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In combination With an axle and thimble, the harter-band constructed with a collar, C, and top iiange, C', affording a shoulder at c2, and provided with flanges C3 and a clip, E, embracing said flanges C, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the tube A and thimble, of the hurter-band having aflauge, G, and side flanges, C3, the upper part ofthe flange C being narrower than the lower part, and the edge ofthe thimble being upturned against the rear or inner edge of said flange C', substantially as described.

7. The combination, with the tube and grooved wood portion D, thicker than the diameter of the tube, of the thimble provided with an extension, B', having offsets b,'sub stantially as described.

8. The combination, with the thimble-extension having offsets b', and with the` metal and wooden portions of the axle, of the hurterband having side iianges, C3, offset at c to fit the thimble-extension, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the tubular and` wood portions of the axle, of a thimble, B, having an open extension, B', whose edges are curved at b, and a hurter-band having a IIO ange, Cf, cutaway in its upper portion, sub- In testi'rnon5r that I .claim the foregoing as stantially as shown7 and for the purposes set 4my invention Infx my signature in presence 1o forth. of two witnesses.-

l0. In combinatlon vWlth an axle and th1n1- NATHAN L HOLMES# y 5 ble,.a hu1fterband construotedwith flanges (3"md`C",r and laterally-apertured projections W'itnesses: G2, andV with a clip-band E', substantially as MJE. DAYTON, and for the purposes set forth. C. ADAMS. 

